Belmont Stakes 2013 Results: Full Highlights and Top Stories

Weather had been a major concern heading into the 2013 Belmont Stakes, but the track cleared up for some “Malice” at the finish.

Veteran jockey Mike Smith got the best of the field as he rode his underdog horse Palace Malice to a three-furlong victory. The horse came in as a 15-1 underdog, per Bovada.

Scroll down for more highlights, lowlights and a recap of the race’s top stories.

Palace Malice Takes It Home

Todd Pletcher had five horses to win at Belmont, and one of them came through.

Palace Malice, jockeyed by Mike Smith, rode a fantastic race to a relatively easy finish. The horse broke ahead of the pack with four other horses before making his final charge down the stretch.

After he won the race, Palace Malice took his win straight to social media:

That’s one smooth horse.

After failing to hold up a lead at the Kentucky Derby, Palace Malice made up for his struggles in a big way. Smith’s horse finished the race ahead of Orb by almost three furlongs.

Oxbow and Orb Close but Not Enough

Heading into the final turn, it looked like Oxbow or Orb would win two out of three Triple Crown legs. When the race reached its climax, however, neither would take home the prize.

Orb won the Kentucky Derby, but that race is a sprint. The Belmont Stakes requires a bit more endurance, which didn’t play to the horse’s strength. America's Best Racing got Orb's trainer to comment on the race:

Oxbow had been considered a pace-setter on the track but wasn’t able to get out to the same lead he did in the Preakness. Jockey Gary Stevens kept his horse far into the race, but Palace Malice won out at the finish. Stevens' thoughts were captured by America's Best Racing on Twitter.